Kamala Harris Raises Record $81M in 24 Hours After Biden Exits Race

Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday, Democrats have funneled over $100 million into Vice-President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, according to her team. This includes a record $81 million raised within a single 24-hour period.

Progressive donation platform ActBlue reported that over 888,000 individuals contributed sums up to $200 during this timeframe. Many donors who had withdrawn support over concerns about Biden’s age are now resuming their contributions to the party.

The surge in donations following Biden’s exit marks the largest single-day fundraising effort for Democrats since 2020, when ActBlue raised $73.5 million after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

This influx of funds represents a significant turnaround for the Democratic Party, which had seen declining support from major donors following Biden’s poor performance in a June debate against Donald Trump. Grassroots funding from small donors had also waned, according to Biden campaign insiders.

After Biden’s endorsement of Harris, Democrats flocked online to donate at a remarkable rate. ActBlue noted on X that grassroots supporters are energized and eager to back Harris as the Democratic nominee.

Win With Black Women, a group of Black women leaders, held a Zoom call with over 44,000 participants on Sunday night to support Harris, raising more than $1.5 million for her campaign in just three hours.

Political fundraiser Joe Cotchett told NBC News that donors are now prepared to contribute generously. Gideon Stein, president of the Moriah Fund, expressed renewed support for the party after pausing donations due to concerns over Biden’s electability.

High-profile donors have also voiced their backing for Harris. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman called her “the right person at the right time” and expressed full support for her candidacy. Alexander Soros, son of philanthropist George Soros, declared Harris “the best and most qualified candidate.”

However, some, like entrepreneur Vinod Khosla, advocate for an open process at the convention rather than a straightforward nomination. Khosla emphasized the importance of selecting a candidate who can defeat Trump.

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, a known Democratic megadonor, previously suggested Biden step down, urging Democratic delegates to choose.